Russian defense minister meets Syria’s Assad, inspects Khmeimim airbase

Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu has met with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in capital Damascus and inspected Russia’s Khmeimim airbase in Syria’s coastal Province of Latakia.

According to Press TV quoting a statement released by Russia’s Defense Ministry on Saturday, Shoigu and Assad met on a request by Russian President Vladimir Putin. In the statement, Russian Defense Ministry’s Spokesman Major-General Igor Konashenkov noted that battling terrorism and furthering military cooperation were discussed during the meeting.

“Topical issues concerning military cooperation between the two countries’ defense ministries, as well as certain aspects of cooperation in the fight against terror groups that are active on Syrian territory, were discussed at the meeting,” said Konashenkov.

Shoigu also carried out an inspection of the Khmeimim airbase, where he met with Russian commanders and pilots in their living quarters, added Konashenkov.

“The defense minister ordered the commanders of the airbase to boost comprehensive support to the locals, especially in the areas blocked by terrorists,” he noted.

On Friday, Putin stressed that maintaining Syria’s integrity is of the highest priority, and warned that the disintegration of the country would be a “destabilizing factor not only for the region, but for the whole world.”

“We must act carefully, step by step, aiming to establish trust between all sides to the conflict,” said Putin. He added that if “we want to promote the principle of democracy, let’s do so with democratic instruments.”